first-rate
Americanadjective
-
excellent; superb.
-
of the highest rank, rate, or class.
adverb
adjective
-
of the best or highest rated class or quality
-
informal very good; excellent
adverb
Etymology
Origin of first-rate
First recorded in 1660–70
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“And it is. But it’s going to be first-rate Schrader soon enough. And it’s already first-rate ‘NCIS.’
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
Lockhart explores themes of mental illness, conspiracy theories and trauma with intelligence and compassion, and his writing is first-rate.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
He engineers several first-rate set pieces, from the fairgrounds of the Midwest to a finale in Dodger Stadium.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
In a world where you can vibe-code software in minutes, Apple entrenching its market position as a maker of first-rate physical things makes sense.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
Soon after her entry into the King’s lab, she had rebelled against its hierarchical character, taking offense because her first-rate crystallographic ability was not given formal recognition.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
